On Tuesday, the Golden State Warriors easily beat the Phoenix Suns, winning 133-95. Golden State remains one spot ahead of the NBA Play-In Tournament and looks poised to go on a deep playoff run if they can stay hot.
Since adding Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are 22-5. However, Butler is averaging only 16.9 points, the lowest since his third season in the league.
Butler has no concerns about his scoring slump.
Since joining the Warriors, Butler is shooting only 45.9 percent from the floor and 25.8 percent from deep, although he isn’t concerned with his lack of scoring production
Against the Suns, he posted only ten points but racked up three assists, which is actually low for him. Since joining the Warriors, he is dishing out 5.7 dimes per game, up from his career average of 4.3 per contest.
“I just want to do whatever it takes to win,” said Butler after the game. “If you’re open, my job is to get you the ball.”
Butler twice drafted the Miami Heat kicking and screaming to the NBA Finals but doesn’t have a ring to show for it. He rightfully sees his next three seasons in Golden State as his best and likely last chance to finally win a championship, and if it means passing up shots to Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski, so be it.
The Warriors are slated to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, and Butler’s defense on LeBron James and Luka Doncic will be much more important than any scoring he could offer.
